The Alphabet Game

[Arthur Crabtree]

Between the wars the best batters averaged 50-55, and that's true of this century. Between those eras, an average of 45-50 was the norm. So not that much different. Great pace bowlers average between 20-25 since WWI. Before then, bowlers were averaging 15-20 and batters struggling to get up to 40. Which suggests a whole other game.

The only real outlier is the Don. Otherwise, none of the sub 20 bowlers came from post WWI and the best batters have covered 45-60. It's nonsensical that someone should average 100.

[braveneutral]

Sorry to be a pain but I would be Rogers.

By the way on this selection criteria - who cares? We're having some fun picking a team which it is not possible to see play together - do we really need a 20 point qualification criteria?

[ianp1970]

Also thought you had to play a test for this.
So not sure on Clive rice place.
Only asking since then picking a team for the tough letters are easier if it covers first class cricket.

it only covers first class cricket when there is a valid argument for doing so imo

rice only didn't play tests because of the boycott, not because he wasn't selected and anyone who averages 40+ with the bat and 22 with the ball over the number of first class games he did is a valid contender, whereas Ramprakash for example wouldn't be a contender based purely on his first class stats as he had ample opportunity at test level and failed to impress. can we say Rice would have been successful at test level, not with any certainty, but there is enough of a case to suggest he would.

there are a few very good or great south african cricketers that had their careers affected by the boycott and Rice is one of them imo

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sorry to be a pain but I would be Rogers.

Stick with Buck for now.

[Arthur Crabtree]

1. Barry Richards
2. Chris Rogers
3. Viv Richards
4. Richie Richardson
5. Joe Root
6. Clive Rice
7. Jack Russell
8. Wilfred Rhodes
9. Sonny Ramadhin
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bruce Reid

Ajinkhya Rahane, Mark Richardson, Mushfiqur Rahim

[ianp1970]

As we have neither a great keeper/batsman nor a high-quality test all-rounder, then I suggest Clive Rice is deserving the number 6 spot.

I have no qualms over which of the aforementioned WKs get the stumper role.

Definite Bats should be Richards/Richards/Root, with no real preference over the remaining slots for other two positions.

With CR at 6, then the choice becomes one between a 3-1-1 attack (Rabada/A.N.Other ahead of one of the spinners?) or 2-1-2 (with only a pair of quicks)

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought Rice would be good enough to be one of the three seamers?

[Arthur Crabtree]

1. Barry Richards
2. Chris Rogers
3. Viv Richards
4. Richie Richardson
5. Joe Root
6. Clive Rice
7. Jack Russell
8. Wilfred Rhodes
9. Sonny Ramadhin
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bruce Reid

Ajinkhya Rahane, Mark Richardson, Mushfiqur Rahim, Paul Reiffel, Kagiso Rabada.

[ianp1970]

I thought Rice would be good enough to be one of the three seamers?

Quite happy with that

[ianp1970]

1. Barry Richards
2. Chris Rogers
3. Viv Richards
4. Richie Richardson
5. Joe Root
6. Clive Rice
7. Jack Russell
8. Wilfred Rhodes
9. Sonny Ramadhin
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bruce Reid

Ajinkhya Rahane, Mark Richardson, Mushfiqur Rahim, Paul Reiffel, Kagiso Rabada.

Second best, so far, of the latter half of the Alphabet...

[ianp1970]

'S' is my favourite back-of-a-fag-packet team

[Arthur Crabtree]

Team of Smiths?

Or Singhs?

[Arthur Crabtree]

1. Barry Richards
2. Chris Rogers
3. Viv Richards
4. Richie Richardson
5. Joe Root
6. Clive Rice
7. Jack Russell
8. Wilfred Rhodes
9. Sonny Ramadhin
10. Andy Roberts
11. Bruce Reid

Ajinkhya Rahane, Mark Richardson, Mushfiqur Rahim, Paul Reiffel, Kagiso Rabada.

This then unless we get some late support for those listed below. I should think another nod for Rahim could get him in the side.

[ianp1970]

Team of Smiths?

Or Singhs?

2 of one, none of the other.

[rich1uk]

starters for "S"

slater
sutcliffe
sangakkarra
stewart
sobers
steyn